101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB4882

 

Introduced 2/18/2020, by Rep. Aaron M. Ortiz

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
765 ILCS 705/13 new
765 ILCS 710/1  from Ch. 80, par. 101

    Amends the Landlord and Tenant Act. Provides that prior to a lease being signed, the lessor shall furnish to the lessee a room-by-room checklist to evaluate the condition of the dwelling unit prior to the lessee taking possession of the dwelling unit. Provides that the lessee shall complete the checklist, detailing any damage to the dwelling unit. Provides that prior to a lessee vacating possession of a dwelling unit, the lessor shall furnish to the lessee a room-by-room checklist to evaluate the condition of the dwelling unit at the time the lessee vacates the dwelling unit. Provides that the lessee shall complete the checklist, detailing any unrepaired damage to the dwelling unit incurred during the time it was in the possession of the lessee, and return the completed checklist to the lessor upon the return of any keys for the dwelling unit. Makes a corresponding change in the Security Deposit Return Act.


LRB101 19579 LNS 69797 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4882LRB101 19579 LNS 69797 b

1    AN ACT concerning civil law.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Landlord and Tenant Act is amended by adding
5Section 13 as follows:
 
6    (765 ILCS 705/13 new)
7    Sec. 13. Checklist. Prior to a lease being signed, the
8lessor shall furnish to the lessee a room-by-room checklist to
9evaluate the condition of the dwelling unit prior to the lessee
10taking possession of the dwelling unit. The lessee shall
11complete the checklist, detailing any damage to the dwelling
12unit. The lessee shall return the completed checklist to the
13lessor, along with any other documentation or records relating
14to the agreement for lease between the lessor and lessee, at
15the time of taking possession of the dwelling unit or at the
16time the signed lease is returned to the lessor.
17    Prior to a lessee vacating possession of a dwelling unit,
18the lessor shall furnish to the lessee a room-by-room checklist
19to evaluate the condition of the dwelling unit at the time the
20lessee vacates the dwelling unit. The lessee shall complete the
21checklist, detailing any unrepaired damage to the dwelling unit
22incurred during the time it was in the possession of the
23lessee. The lessee shall return the completed checklist to the

 

 

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1lessor upon the return to the lessor of any keys for the
2dwelling unit.
3    The lessor shall use the checklists when determining or
4justifying the statement of damages, if any, under the Security
5Deposit Return Act.
 
6    Section 10. The Security Deposit Return Act is amended by
7changing Section 1 as follows:
 
8    (765 ILCS 710/1)  (from Ch. 80, par. 101)
9    Sec. 1. Statement of damage.
10    (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a lessor of
11residential real property, containing 5 or more units, who has
12received a security deposit from a lessee to secure the payment
13of rent or to compensate for damage to the leased premises may
14not withhold any part of that deposit as reimbursement for
15property damage unless the lessor has, within 30 days of the
16date that the lessee vacated the leased premises, furnished to
17the lessee, by personal delivery, by postmarked mail directed
18to his or her last known address, or by electronic mail to a
19verified electronic mail address provided by the lessee, an
20itemized statement of the damage allegedly caused to the leased
21premises and the estimated or actual cost for repairing or
22replacing each item on that statement, attaching the paid
23receipts, or copies thereof, for the repair or replacement. The
24lessor shall include copies of both checklists required under

 

 

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1Section 13 of the Landlord and Tenant Act as additional
2justification for any deduction of a security deposit or charge
3for damages. If the lessor utilizes his or her own labor to
4repair or replace any damage or damaged items caused by the
5lessee, the lessor may include the reasonable cost of his or
6her labor to repair or replace such damage or damaged items. If
7estimated cost is given, the lessor shall furnish to the
8lessee, delivered in person or by postmarked mail directed to
9the last known address of the lessee or another address
10provided by the lessee, paid receipts, or copies thereof,
11within 30 days from the date the statement showing estimated
12cost was furnished to the lessee, as required by this Section.
13If a written lease specifies the cost for cleaning, repair, or
14replacement of any component of the leased premises or any
15component of the building or common areas that, if damaged,
16will not be replaced, the lessor may withhold the dollar amount
17specified in the lease. Costs specified in a written lease
18shall be for damage beyond normal wear and tear and reasonable
19to restore the leased premises to the same condition as at the
20time the lease began. The itemized statement shall reference
21the dollar amount specified in the written lease associated
22with the specific building component or amenity and include a
23copy of the applicable portion of the lease. Deductions for
24costs or values not specified in the lease shall otherwise
25comply with the requirements of this Section. If no such
26statement and receipts, or copies thereof, are furnished to the

 

 

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1lessee as required by this Section, the lessor shall return the
2security deposit in full within 45 days of the date that the
3lessee vacated the premises, delivered in person or by
4postmarked mail directed to the last known address of the
5lessee or another address provided by the lessee. If the lessee
6fails to provide the lessor with a mailing address or
7electronic mail address, the lessor shall not be held liable
8for any damages or penalties as a result of the lessee's
9failure to provide an address.
10    (b) If, through no fault of the lessor, the lessor is
11unable to produce as required in subsection (a) receipts for
12repairs or replacements, or copies thereof, then the lessor
13shall produce an itemized list of the cost of repair or
14replacement, any other evidence the lessor has of the cost, and
15a verified statement of the lessor or the agent of the lessor
16detailing the specific reasons why the lessor is unable to
17produce the required receipts or copies and verifying that the
18lessor has provided all other evidence the lessor has of the
19cost.
20    (c) Upon a finding by a circuit court that a lessor has
21refused to supply the itemized statement required by this
22Section, or has supplied such statement in bad faith, and has
23failed or refused to return the amount of the security deposit
24due within the time limits provided, the lessor shall be liable
25for an amount equal to twice the amount of the security deposit
26due, together with court costs and reasonable attorney's fees.

 

 

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1(Source: P.A. 100-269, eff. 1-1-18; 100-654, eff. 7-31-18.)